Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 26 August 2026
Justice Department and FBI Seize Platforms Operated and Used by China State-Sponsored Hackers to Target U.S. Critical InfrastructureRead the Press Release
The Justice Department and FBI announced court-authorized domain seizures today to deny malicious cyber actors access to two complementary hacking platforms known as “QScan” and “QTRouter,” used to target U.S. critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks. As described in court documents unsealed in the Southern District of California, a People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored group known as “QTFY,” employed by China-based Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company (南京鑫玖维网络科技有限公司), created and operated QScan and QTRouter. Among the targets of QTFY are the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Federal Reserve, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Senate.
“State-sponsored malicious hackers preying on America’s critical infrastructure will be stopped and prosecuted. We are here to ensure security for the American people and will use every tool we have to keep that promise,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Federal law enforcement investigated and disabled the PRC’s malicious software, the latest in a series of technical operations to dismantle indiscriminate hacking activities sponsored by the People’s Republic of China.”
“Today we announced the disruption of a global botnet and hacking platform used by Chinese state-sponsored hackers to target U.S. critical infrastructure,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These tools were used by PRC cyber actors to hide the origin of their attacks. Thanks to the work of FBI San Diego, FBI Cyber Division, and DOJ partners, we seized adversary infrastructure and shut these platforms down. Today’s action is just the latest technical operation against PRC-sponsored hacking - and in support of President Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America, the FBI is surging efforts to shape adversary behavior and defend the homeland in cyberspace.”
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the Justice Department’s steadfast commitment to going on the offensive against cyber threats to the national security,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These court-authorized seizures deny PRC-linked hackers access to tools they use to mount online attacks against our Nation’s critical infrastructure.”
“We’re taking the fight to PRC sponsored cybercriminals to protect the critical services Americans rely on every day,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California.
“The FBI remains relentless in our efforts to counter nation state cyber actors, taking decisive action against those threatening the United States and our critical infrastructure,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Through complex investigations, aggressive technical operations, and strong partnerships, FBI San Diego will continue to identify, disrupt, and impose costs on our cyber adversaries. We are committed to dismantling the tools behind these state-sponsored crimes and protecting the American people from malicious cyber activity.”
According to court documents, QTFY offers computer hacking services to its paying customers, including the PRC’s Ministry of State Security and the People’s Liberation Army. These computer hacking services include QScan and QTRouter, which work in conjunction. QScan scans and automatically infects thousands of “internet-of-things” (IoT) devices worldwide, which are then added to the QTRouter network of QTFY-controlled devices. QTRouter consists of these compromised IoT devices, as well as commercial proxy service devices and leased virtual private servers. QTRouter then serves as an “obfuscation network” – meaning it allows QTFY and other malicious cyber actors to conceal the PRC-origin of their computer intrusion activities because the malicious communications appear to originate from computers (such as those compromised by QScan) that are outside of the PRC and may even be local to the targeted networks. Because the seized domains were hard-coded into both the QScan and QTRouter malware and used for essential tasks such as communication and authentication, the court-authorized seizures made QScan and QTRouter inoperable.
This disruption announced today is among a series of court-authorized technical operations against indiscriminate hacking activities by the PRC. In 2025, the FBI removed PlugX surveillance malware from over 4,000 U.S. computers after they had been infected by the PRC-sponsored hacker group Mustang Panda. In 2024, the FBI disabled a botnet consisting of hundreds of thousands of infected internet-of-things devices, which the PRC-sponsored hacking group Flax Typhoon was providing to customers in the Chinese government. In 2023, the FBI disrupted a different botnet used by the PRC-sponsored hacking group Volt Typhoon to conceal their exploitation of U.S. and foreign critical infrastructure. Also today, the FBI and National Security Agency published a cybersecurity advisory providing indicators-of-compromise by QTFY based on their analysis of QTFY malicious cyber activity dating back to at least 2018. In addition, Lumen Technologies’ threat intelligence group, Black Lotus Labs, published a description of QTFY’s tactics, techniques, and procedures: www.lumen.com/blog/en-us/the-infrastructure-quartermaster-inside-a-china-nexus-state-enablement-model.
The FBI’s San Diego Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, and the National Security Cyber Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division investigated this hacking activity and led this disruption effort.
Note: View the affidavit here.
Edits have been made to ensure this press release accurately reflects the government’s allegations in the affidavit in support of the domain seizures.
Jefferson County Man Admits Sextortion of Arkansas TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted requesting and receiving child sexual abuse material from a teen and then forcing her to produce more.
David Paeper, 20, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted meeting a 15-year-old girl on Instagram and requesting and receiving sexually explicit images of her. When she later refused his request for more images, he threatened to send the initial explicit images to her mother unless she produced more.
The Rogers (Arkansas) Police Department traced Paeper’s Instagram account and the St. Louis County Police Department found and interviewed Paeper. They also found images of the teen on Paeper’s phone.
Paeper is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. The charge is punishable by five to 20 years in prison.
The Rogers (Arkansas) Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Drugs at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Quantel Saunders, 31, an inmate, pleaded guilty today to possession of contraband in a federal correctional institution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Saunders was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley on October 13, 2024, when staff conducted a search of his person following a visitation. Staff found a quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, and cocaine on Saunders during the search.
Saunders is scheduled to be sentenced on December 11, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-148.
###
Illegal aliens sentenced for immigration violationsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court, two receiving prison time, and others to be transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation.
The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:
- Facundo Gregorio-Gonzalez, 50, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 14 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Gregorio-Gonzalez was identified as an illegal alien in October 2025 in Glynn County and upon completion of his prison term, will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal.
- Gamaliel Cordova-Ortiz, 30, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 14 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Cordova-Ortiz was identified as an illegal alien in June 2025 during a traffic stop in Glynn County and upon completion of his prison term, will be transferred to ICE custody for removal.
- Francisco Mendez-Villa, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Mendez-Villa was identified as an illegal alien in June 2026 during a traffic stop in Camden County and will be transferred to ICE custody for removal.
- Lucas Artemio Montejo-Miguel, 48, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Montejo-Miguel was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a traffic stop in Camden County and will be transferred to ICE custody for removal.
Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal.
“Federal immigration laws exist to protect the integrity of our nation’s borders,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, those who repeatedly undermine those laws will be held accountable, removed and returned to their country of citizenship.”
These cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Timothy P. Dean, Darron J. Hubbard, and Matthew A. Breedon.
Illegal Alien with Multiple Federal Convictions Sentenced for Another Illegal Re-Entry into the U.S.Read the Press Release
GREENVILLE, MS– Fredis Ramos-Serrano, a.k.a. Carlos Roberta Galvez-Jovel, 51, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today in federal court to 57 months in prison following his conviction for illegal reentry into the United States.
Following his arrest by the Blue Mountain Police Department, officers learned that Ramos-Serrano was an illegal alien with no status to be in the United States. He had previously been convicted, under an alias, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy in 2003. He also had multiple other federal felony convictions, including a previous conviction for illegal reentry.
Ramos-Serrano has previously been deported from the United States back to Honduras on two separate occasions following his federal convictions. He has never applied for permission to reenter the United States lawfully.
Chief District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Ramos-Serrano to 57 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release in the event that he remains in the country. However, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have placed an immigration detainer on the defendant, which will result, again, in his removal from the United States following the conclusion of his federal sentence.
U.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, “This prosecution resulted from yet another arrest by our hardworking and diligent agents at Homeland Security Investigations. For years, our border was opened and allowed illegal narcotics and criminal aliens to flood into our nation. Illegal aliens who destroy our families, small towns, and communities by distributing meth, and other poisons, will never be tolerated in this district. Blue Mountain Police Department and ICE, through their 287(g) program, shows the power of those partnerships to apprehend criminal aliens that live in our communities and keep our citizens safe. We appreciate their role in this partnership. It is a model for others in this state.”
“HSI is committed to identifying and removing individuals who unlawfully reenter the United States after removal and continue to violate our laws,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of repeated immigration violations, particularly when accompanied by felony criminal conduct. When we combine vital partnerships with 287(g) partner Blue Mountain Police Department and other local law enforcement, we create more secure communities in Mississippi and across the U.S.”
Blue Mountain Police Chief Chris Joshlin said, “At the Blue Mountain Police Department, our responsibility is to protect and serve everyone in our community. We will continue doing everything within our authority to keep the Town of Blue Mountain safe, regardless of a person’s background, nationality or immigration status. Our priority is public safety and treating every person we encounter with fairness, dignity, and respect.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Silvia Paola Sanchez-Hurtado, 23, of Nicaragua, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal officer.
According to the plea agreement, on March 11, officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement encountered Sanchez-Hurtado in Fort Collins, Colorado, and attempted to arrest her pursuant to a warrant on immigration violations. When officers attempted to place handcuffs on Sanchez-Hurtado, she resisted and bit one of the officers on the neck.
Sanchez-Hurtado will be sentenced later this year.
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Tonkin handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 26-cr-095-GPG
Illegal Alien Felon and Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking over 700 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden in Cucumber ShipmentRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE – Andres Jasso, Jr. and Rufino Pineda-Perez, an illegal alien from Mexico and twice-convicted felon, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking over 700 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a tractor-trailer load of cucumbers outside of a Gainesville, Georgia warehouse.
“The defendants attempted to conceal an astonishing amount of deadly methamphetamine in a cucumber shipment, but the diligent and strategic efforts of law enforcement partners uncovered their ruse,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result, Pineda-Perez, a twice-convicted and twice-deported felon, and Jasso, Jr. will now serve substantial time in federal prison with no possibility of parole.”
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of trafficking methamphetamine and the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This defendant, a twice-convicted felon, continued to engage in dangerous drug trafficking, going to great lengths to conceal methamphetamine in a shipment of cucumbers. Cases like this demonstrate why strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies are so critical. By working together, sharing information, and pursuing a common mission, we can disrupt drug trafficking organizations and protect our communities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 30, 2025, DEA agents were surveilling a tractor-trailer parked at a Gainesville warehouse that agents believed contained a large amount of drugs. Agents arrested Jasso, Jr. and Pineda-Perez after seeing them in a sedan parked next to the tractor-trailer. During a search of the tractor-trailer, agents located 20 pallets of boxes containing cucumbers and thousands of individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. The investigation established that co-conspirators had tasked Jasso, Jr. and Pineda-Perez with offloading the boxes from the tractor-trailer and separating the drugs from the cucumbers. The weight of the methamphetamine exceeded 700 pounds.
Pineda-Perez is a citizen and national of Mexico with no legal status in the United States. In 2001, Pineda-Perez was deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction in Arizona for transporting marijuana. He illegally re-entered the United States thereafter and was encountered by federal agents in March 2014, while transporting nearly one kilogram of cocaine in the Atlanta area. In August 2015, a federal judge sentenced him to six and a half years of imprisonment. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Pineda-Perez was deported for a second time.
Earlier today, Rufino Pineda-Perez, 61, of Mexico, was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On July 17, 2026, Andres Jasso, Jr., 39, of Brookhaven, Ga., was also sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
On March 11, 2026, Pineda-Perez and Jasso, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and Pineda-Perez also pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Johnny Baer prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Honduran Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SANTOS EMILIO GALEANO-MUNOZ, a/k/a “Juan Camacho-Grageda,” a/k/a “Juan Carlos Munoz-Galeana,” a/k/a “Juan Munoz-Galeana,” a/k/a “Hector Borrego” ("GALEANO-MUNOZ") age 48, a native of Honduras, was indicted on August 21, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on January 7, 2015. GALEANO-MUNOZ faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Homeland Security Task Force: Five Plead Guilty to Importing Thousands of Kilograms of Cocaine into South FloridaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Five defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine into South Florida aboard sport fishing vessels from the Dominican Republic.
According to court records, Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez, 32; Jesus Alberto Salcedo-Perez, 32; Keisy Estibet Peguero, 38; Enmanuel Amauris Rivera-Cabrera, 32; and Mario Joel Rijo-Jimenez, 46, participated in a drug trafficking organization that used U.S.-registered sport fishing vessels to transport multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine into South Florida.
“These were not fishing trips. They were industrial-scale cocaine runs into South Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This organization used sport fishing vessels and hidden compartments to move thousands of kilograms of cocaine from offshore waters to stash houses and distributors in our communities. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue attacking these trafficking networks at every point in the pipeline, from sea to shore to street.”
The organization, led by Mercedes-Hernandez, was responsible for importing over 3,500 kilograms of cocaine aboard vessels equipped with concealed compartments used to store the drugs. The cocaine was picked up off the coast of the Bahamas and transported to South Florida.
Mercedes-Hernandez financed the purchase of vessels and other expenses associated with transporting the cocaine. He also supervised the unloading of the drugs, their transportation to a stash house, and their subsequent delivery to distributors.
The other defendants performed various roles in the organization. Salcedo-Perez served in multiple capacities, including as the registered owner of the vessels used by the organization. Peguero assisted in transporting the cocaine and guarded drug shipments while they were in transit. Rivera-Cabrera and Rijo-Jimenez served as captains of vessels used to transport cocaine into South Florida.
Drug shipments attributed to the conspiracy include:
Approximately 1,600 kilograms of cocaine transported into South Florida aboard the M/V Mysterry in mid-2023;
Approximately 900 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard the M/V Maple Leaf in December 2024; and
Approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard the M/V Daviniki in July and August 2025.
In total, the organization imported thousands of kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value exceeding $31 million.
Each defendant pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to import more than five kilograms of cocaine. Each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
DEA Miami Field Division is investigating the case, with assistance from the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from DEA, the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-20092.
###
Henrico man sentenced to six years in prison for voluminous collection of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced today to six years in prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, over a period of at least 16 months, David Brent Timberlake, 65, requested and received CSAM through a peer-to-peer file-sharing network designed to anonymize users who share files.
On Jan. 25, 2023, the FBI searched Timberlake’s residence and seized more than 100 digital devices and pieces of digital media. A forensic review of a portion of the seized devices revealed 52,343 digital files depicting CSAM, including 48,312 still image files and 4,031 video files, of which 634 involved toddlers or infants and 306 involved sadistic or masochistic conduct.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian R. Hood prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-26.
Hampton drug trafficker sentenced to five years in prison for distributing LSDRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to five years in prison for distribution of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
According to court documents, during the course of a narcotics trafficking investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) conducted five controlled purchases of narcotics from Josiah Antonio Travis, 24, between December 2024 and March 2025. On Jan. 8, 2025, Travis sold 200 gel tabs (approximately 5.8 grams) of LSD. During the course of the controlled buys, Travis also sold marijuana, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mushrooms containing psilocybin and/or psilocyn.
Following the controlled buys, NCIS searched Travis’ residence and recovered, among other things, 543.2 grams of mushrooms, marijuana, four loaded firearms, various ammunition, ammunition magazines, narcotics packaging materials, and a digital scale.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Steven DiGiantommaso, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-64.
Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced to 84 Months for Aggravated Identity Theft of Minnesota ManRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien from Guatemala residing in St. Joseph, Mo., was sentenced in federal court for fraudulently using a Minnesota man’s identity for over a decade to work legally in the United States.
Romeo Perez-Bravo, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to seven years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for assuming the victim’s identity to live and work in the United States. Perez-Bravo was also ordered to pay the victim restitution for the funds he expended attempting to regain his identity. This sentence includes two years for aggravated identity theft and five years for illegal reentry to the United States after a previous felony conviction. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
“The actions of Romeo Perez-Bravo caused extensive harm to the victim, including substantial lost wages, impact to the victim’s credit, and countless hours spent trying to resolve the consequences; hours that can never be restored,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the District of Western Missouri. “Identity theft is a serious crime that can have lasting consequences for victims while also placing an unnecessary burden on taxpayers, government programs, and the agencies responsible for administering them. Our district will continue to aggressively pursue those who break the law by not only fraudulently assuming the identity of an American citizen, but also violating our country’s immigration policies.”
“For more than a decade, this defendant stole more than a name. He stole a real person’s financial security, peace of mind, and ability to live free from the consequences of someone else’s crimes,” said Rick Sabatini, Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent Charge. “HSI Kansas City will continue to pursue identity thieves, repeat immigration offenders, and criminal aliens who exploit our systems and victimize innocent Americans. If you use fraud to hide, work, or commit crimes in our communities, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Perez-Bravo admitted that beginning in Missouri in 2009, he used the victim’s name, social security number, and date of birth to fraudulently obtain work authorization. He also used the victim’s identity to obtain a Missouri non-driver’s license and to register vehicles. At the sentencing hearing, the victim testified that he learned someone had stolen his identity when his wages began to be garnished for an unknown debt. He inquired with the Social Security Administration and was told there were several employers reporting wages under his SSN in states he never visited or lived in. For over a decade, the victim received demand letters from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for unpaid tax debts accrued by Perez-Bravo working under his identity. The victim estimated he had paid nearly $15,000 to the IRS and continues to pay monthly installments on the tax debts. The victim also incurred expenses related to attempting to remove Perez-Bravo’s taxes from his record.Perez-Bravo was illegally present in the United States after being deported three previous times in 2005, 2008, and 2009. While illegally present in the United States, Perez-Bravo was convicted of six driving while intoxicated offenses, domestic violence, and three felonies including terroristic threats and aggravated forgery. He also used the victim’s identity when he was found liable in a wrongful death suit for a vehicle crash he caused.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations, the Olivia Minnesota Police Department, and the St. Joseph Missouri Police Department.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Fraudster Who Impersonated DEA Agent Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Matthew John Sanguine (49, Orlando) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to five years and five months in federal prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and impersonating an officer of the United States. Sanguine pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $10,000, the proceeds of bank fraud conviction. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on May 2, 2022, Sanguine was stopped by the Orlando Police Department while driving a stolen vehicle. Officers found a Florida driver license bearing Sanguine’s photo but listing the identity of an Arizona resident (“J.R.”). The officers kept that fraudulent document as part of the evidence involved in that case.
While his case was progressing in state court in Orlando, Sanguine presented the State Attorney’s Office with a fraudulent letter that was purportedly authored by an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The fake letter included claims that Sanguine was authorized to have the false driver license bearing the name “J.R.” because Sanguine was working as an informant for the DEA. The letter demanded that the State Attorney’s Office return the confiscated driver license because Sanguine needed this fake identity to avoid detection by drug cartels. The letter warned of a “grave risk” unless the license was returned to Sanguine “immediately” and all records of this license were removed from the court records.
The State Attorney’s Office suspected the letter was not authentic and referred the matter to the FBI. The FBI’s investigation revealed that Sanguine was using “J.R.’s” identity for at least a decade and had used it to perpetrate bank fraud for $10,000.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta and Dana E. Hill. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.
Franklin County Man Caught with over One-Half Pound of Meth Sentenced to 140 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Wednesday sentenced a man caught with more than one-half pound of methamphetamine to 140 months in prison.
Nathan Hollis Price, 49, was caught on May 20, 2024, after investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office learned that he was bringing the meth from St. Charles to the motel in Sullivan where he was staying. They conducted a traffic stop and found three bags containing a total of 245.9 grams of pure meth. They found two scales and a glass pipe in his motel room.
The amount of meth was “clearly an amount that he intended to distribute further,” a sentencing memo written by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Rebar says.
Price pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Rebar is prosecuting the case.
Four Talladega Men Convicted of Drug-Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Four Talladega men have been held accountable in federal court for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
The four men were initially indicted together, but two previously pleaded guilty. The remaining two were set for trial last week before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. The jury found Tramarcus Fomby also known as “Slacc,” 31, guilty after five days of testimony. Fomby was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Flemings Chatman also known as “Boo Bang,” 44, was set for trial with Fomby but pleaded guilty at the beginning of trial to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In July, Ladarious Quashawn Brown also known as “Eastside Jack,” 33, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after his earlier guilty plea to conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of methamphetamine.
And co-defendant Robert Houston Jr., 57, pleaded guilty to his part in the same conspiracy earlier this month.
“The defendants have repeatedly engaged in criminal conduct with disregard for the law, and they posed a serious danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “Together, with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners we will continue to pursue those who profit from drug trafficking and work to keep our communities safe.”
“The jury’s verdict convicting Tramarcus Fomby puts an exclamation point on the tremendous work of the DEA and their state and local partners, marking a complete dismantlement of this notoriously violent drug trafficking ring,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Dimler. “The Talladega area will be safer with Chatman, Fomby, and Brown behind bars.”
“Relentless collaboration is the key to dismantling drug trafficking organizations targeting our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “By pairing the reach of our local law enforcement partners with DEA and ATF resources, we ensured every member of this operation was brought to justice.”
“This investigation involved premeditated acts to obtain and distribute dangerous amounts of illegal narcotics with blatant disregard for public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James J. VanVliet. “The ATF and our valued law enforcement partners remain committed to dismantling these trafficking networks, removing illegal firearms and drugs from our communities, and ensuring that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are held accountable.”
In January 2024, the DEA, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, began investigating a Talladega-area drug-trafficking organization led by Chatman.
In late September 2024, DEA learned that Brown, along with co-defendants Fomby and Chatman, pooled money to buy approximately ten kilograms of methamphetamine for which Chatman and Fomby gave Brown $5,000. Brown later contacted Chatman and advised that he had to get rid of the methamphetamine during a police pursuit.
Later that month, Fomby, Chatman, and Brown again pooled their money and planned another methamphetamine buy to recoup their losses from the earlier transaction. Brown, Chatman, and codefendant Robert Houston Jr. drove in two cars from Talladega, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia, to purchase approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine to be split amongst Chatman, Brown, and Fomby. Chatman made the purchase and placed the drugs in the car Houston had driven for the trip. On the return trip to Alabama, Chatman and Brown rode together in a car separate from Houston, and the trio traveled in tandem back to Talladega. Law enforcement officers with the Talladega Drug Task Force and DEA special agents waited along Highway 21 in Talladega to spot them on that return journey. That evening, local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Houston, searched his car, and seized nearly 4,600 grams of pure methamphetamine.
DEA Birmingham Division and ATF Birmingham Division investigated the case along with the Talladega County Drug Task Force, 7th Judicial Circuit Major Crimes Unit, Talladega Police Department, Talladega County Sheriff’s Department, and the Oxford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory R. Dimler and Scott Woodard prosecuted the case.
Fort Bragg Killer Receives Three Life Sentences in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, NC – A federal judge sentenced Kenneth Maurice Quick, Jr., age 26, of Laurinburg, to three life sentences and then to an additional 83 years in federal prison for murdering two service members in December 2020. In May 2026, a federal jury convicted Quick on eight charges after a full trial, including first‑degree murder, drug conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.
“This cold‑blooded murderer will never see the light of day again,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Understand this, if you commit depraved violence on federal property: we will hunt you down, we will prosecute you, and we will lock you away for a very long time. No excuses. No escape. When you take lives, we will come for you without hesitation. You get life for taking a life.”
Evidence presented at trial established a series of brutal actions. Quick murdered WL, an active‑duty soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, and TD, a former soldier. Leading up to these killings, he agreed to buy cocaine from WL, but he never intended to pay. TD supplied the cocaine to WL and joined him on the trip to deliver the drugs to Quick. The defendant met WL at a trap house in Laurinburg and remorselessly shot him in the back five times. Quick then forced TD to drive to a remote wooded area on Fort Bragg to help dispose of WL’s body. When the truck became stuck in the sand, Quick shot TD in the head and in the back, killing him at the scene. The next day, Quick and his co‑conspirators recovered the truck from woods, drove it to a country road in another county, ransacked, moved, and burned TD’s truck. About two months later, he arranged another drug deal and murdered another unsuspecting victim in cold blood. While cooling in jail awaiting trial, Quick also provided a fellow gang member with the name of a potential witness. That gang member took that informant and murdered the witness.
"Quick likely believed he evaded authorities in killing two men and discarding their bodies on Fort Bragg property. He clearly didn't consider the dedication and expertise of FBI Special Agents and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, who followed the evidence and put together a meticulous timeline of Quick's crimes. Three life sentences for eight federal crimes say very loudly and clearly, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will make certain violent criminals are always held accountable," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division led the investigations in the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-FL, Case No. 4:24-CR-46-M, and Case No. 4:24-CR-56-BO.
Former Tribal Police Officer Indicted for Using Excessive Force and Falsifying a ReportRead the Press Release
A former tribal police officer with the San Carlos Apache Police Department (SCAPD) was charged in an indictment today with two federal crimes arising out of his use of excessive force against a handcuffed arrestee and his falsification of another officer’s report.
The indictment charges Jacob Christopher Slawson, 29, with deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242, and falsification of records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. According to the indictment, after an arrestee was handcuffed and secured in the back of a police vehicle, Slawson punched the arrestee in the face, knocking him unconscious, and then yanked him out of the vehicle causing N.G. to split his head open on the concrete, resulting in bodily injury. The indictment further alleges that when Slawson learned he was under investigation for excessive force, he falsified the report of a fellow detective by adding false and misleading information to the report with the intent to obstruct the investigation. If convicted of both charges, Slawson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona, and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
This case was investigated by agents with the FBI’s Tucson Resident Agency and Phoenix Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Davenport III for the District of Arizona and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Missouri Pastor Convicted of All Charges Related to Pandemic, Auto, Personal Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday convicted the former visiting pastor of a Missouri church of all 20 of the counts that he faced related to his orchestration of a $1.2 million pandemic loan fraud scheme as well as a more than $600,000 auto and personal loan fraud scheme.
After jurors deliberated for about an hour, they found Kenneth C. Sparks III, 56, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and 10 counts of money laundering.
The trial started Monday. Evidence and testimony showed that Sparks was invited to Faith Walk Ministry in Paris, Missouri, to preach for three days. He stayed three years, all the while using the church, its employees and parishioners to launch a “full-time fraud operation,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman told jurors in closing arguments. Sparks claimed to be a prophet and an apostle of God, whose word could not be questioned. “Kenneth Sparks impersonated God himself in order to steal millions of dollars in public funds during the worst days of the pandemic,” Wiseman said.
Sparks first fraudulently obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for himself shortly after the pandemic hit. He then “exploited the faith of his congregation” by asking and receiving for parishioners’ personal and bank account information and using that to apply for additional loans, Wiseman said. He also directed them to open accounts at a credit union to receive the money and had them sign blank checks. Sparks told parishioners and church employees that he would use the information to fix their credit and/or obtain grants to build a megachurch, evidence and testimony showed. About 40 fraudulent EIDL and Paycheck Protection Program loans would eventually be obtained.
In testimony Wednesday, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Aaron Joifrita said $1.2 million in pandemic loans were obtained in the name of parishioners and church employees. Loan applications contained numerous falsehoods. The applications were filled out by church employees, with the help of two other Sparks’ co-conspirators from outside the church who supplied false tax and employment documents. Parishioners were also supplied with “scripts” in case they were questioned by bank officials about the loans. Just over $1 million went to Sparks, who wrote $313,000 in checks to himself and obtained $172,000 via cash withdrawals or advances in addition to spending $168,000 at luxury retailers, $127,000 on real estate and $47,000 on jewelry, including a diamond-studded Rolex watch, evidence showed.
Sparks also used many of the same methods to direct a scheme that took out $685,000 in personal and auto loans in his name and the names of others.
Sparks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. Ten other defendants have either pleaded guilty or accepted responsibility in the case.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek Wiseman and Karin Schute are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Former Guam Police Officer Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Brian Dacanay Awa, age 47, was sentenced on August 25, 2026, in the U.S. District Court of Guam to 15 months imprisonment for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee.
Working with informants and other investigative leads, federal authorities identified former Guam Police Department (GPD) K9 Officer, Brian Dacanay Awa, as a participant in methamphetamine distribution in Guam. Federal agents and GPD developed a confidential informant who reported prior drug purchases from Awa and agreed to participate in controlled operations. On June 24, 2024, under law enforcement supervision, the informant met Awa at a Dededo store, where Awa provided a cigarette pack containing 3.76 grams of methamphetamine with 100% purity. The transaction was recorded on video. A second controlled buy occurred on July 3, 2024, at another location in Dededo. Inside Awa’s vehicle, he produced a red cigarette pack containing 28.1 grams of methamphetamine with 100% purity.
“Law enforcement is entrusted with keeping our communities safe and drug-free,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “I applaud the work of federal agents, in addition to GPD-SIS, in bringing Awa to justice. We will continue to promote accountability in law enforcement at every opportunity.”
“Brian Awa abused his position as a law enforcement officer and violated the public trust by trafficking methamphetamine into Guam,” said HSI Honolulu Acting Special Agent in Charge CJ Ammons. “HSI is committed to working with our federal and local partners to stop drug traffickers, protect our communities, and hold accountable those who exploit positions of public trust.”
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations–Guam Field Office, with the coordinated assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Guam Police Department Special Investigation Section.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin K. Petersburg prosecuted the case in the District of Guam.
Florida man charged with assault of court security officer in HoustonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 51-year-old man for assaulting a court security officer in a federal courthouse library.
Victor Graham is currently in custody and expected to appear for his arraignment in the near future.
On July 29, Graham allegedly entered the law library at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston.
The charges allege a court security officer determined Graham was not complying with courthouse rules and instructed him to leave. At that time, Graham allegedly assaulted the officer and caused him bodily injury before authorities took him into custody.
If convicted, Graham faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.The Federal Protective Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Florida Man Arrested for Cyberstalking Capital Region VictimsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony Gagnon, age 23, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was arrested on August 4, 2026, for cyberstalking. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
The criminal complaint alleges that Gagnon sent menacing and threatening communications through social media and text messages to several residents of Saratoga County, New York. These messages included numerous references to one of the victims being kidnapped as well as communications that identified where that victim lives and other personal details.
“Cybercriminals hide behind electronic screens, but those who issue violent threats will be swiftly investigated, identified, and arrested,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the FBI, this defendant was quickly apprehended and as alleged can no longer use the internet as a platform to make threats.”
“As alleged in the criminal complaint, Mr. Gagnon sent a series of threatening messages to several victims in Saratoga County. Through swift coordination with our partners on FBI Albany’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and our colleagues at FBI Jacksonville’s Daytona Beach Resident Agency, he was identified, located, and taken into custody. This arrest should send a clear message that the FBI will not tolerate criminals who hide behind a keyboard while terrorizing our citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli.
Gagnon had an initial appearance August 4, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, and was released on conditions.
The charge filed against Gagnon carries a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone Statement on Online Safety Following Meta SettlementRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Today’s announcement that Meta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion and implement reforms across Facebook and Instagram is an encouraging step forward. For years, children and teens have been harmed by social media platforms that deployed deceptive, addictive, and emotionally manipulative algorithms designed to keep young users online longer, ultimately boosting corporate profits at the expense of children’s well‑being.
Rates of chronic social media addiction among youth continue to rise, exposing children and teens to significant online dangers. While digital platforms can be valuable tools for learning and connection, they also create opportunities for predatory individuals to target and exploit vulnerable young people.
For parents and caregivers looking for ways to better understand their child’s online activity, there are some simple, practical steps worth considering. Discussing with your child what information they share with others can help ensure sensitive personal details—such as photos, school information, or locations—are not being shared publicly. Keeping profiles private, using non‑identifying usernames or images, limiting personal information, and adjusting privacy settings on all devices, including tablets and smartwatches, are easy ways to strengthen digital safety.
The Department of Justice’s flagship child‑safety initiative, Project Safe Childhood, is a nationwide effort to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, as well as identify and rescue victims.
In an increasingly digital world, it is essential that adults engage children and teens in ongoing, age‑appropriate conversations about online safety. To learn more, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger or need to report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office. For reporting online exploitation, suspicious activity, or to seek additional information, visit CyberTipline.com or call 800‑843‑5678.
Final Defendant in Nationwide Marijuana and THC Trafficking Organization Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” age 44, of Fresno, California and Troy, New York, pled guilty August 25, 2026, to leading a nationwide marijuana and THC trafficking organization that shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region. Singletary is the 25th and final defendant to plead guilty in the case.
Starting in 2016, Singletary and other members of the organization shipped marijuana and THC from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, to recipients throughout the United States, including the Capital Region, New York City, and other parts of New York, Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Fast Pack & Ship was initially owned by Sammy Olague, who sold the store to Nehemiah Fane, aka “Neil,” in June 2018. Singletary helped finance the purchase, and Fane ran the store with James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost,” and Ruby Ledesma before transferring it to the mother of Singletary’s children, McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” in April 2020. Coles, who is originally from Troy but lived with Singletary in Fresno, operated Fast Pack & Ship through M.M.M.C. Management, Inc. Singletary, Coles, Fane, Daniels, Olague, Ledesma and other members of the organization all shipped marijuana from Fast Pack & Ship.
The packages of marijuana, which were shipped through UPS and FedEx, reflected the names of fake shippers, and the marijuana was concealed in dog food containers and luggage. To avoid detection, the packages of marijuana were often sealed with eBay packing tape. Between April 2017 and June 2022, approximately 1,292 packages containing 7,068 kilograms, or 15,582 pounds, of marijuana were shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to the Capital Region alone.
“With this final guilty plea, my office has now brought 25 defendants to justice for their roles in this criminal enterprise,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “These individuals operated a large-scale illegal marijuana and THC trafficking scheme, moving their illicit product across the country and into the Capital Region. As if flooding the community with unregulated, illegal drugs weren’t harmful enough, they also sought to launder millions of dollars in illegal profits. Thanks to the collaboration of our law enforcement partners across the country, their scheme was disrupted, and justice has been delivered to all 25 defendants.”
ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said, “This guilty plea closes the chapter on a sprawling criminal organization that moved thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC across the country and into communities throughout New York’s Capital Region. This network relied on concealed shipments, knock spots and, in some instances, firearms to facilitate and protect its illegal drug trafficking activities. Holding the 25th and final defendant accountable reflects years of determined investigative work and the strength of the partnerships that brought this organization down. ATF NY Albany is proud to have worked alongside HSI, DEA, the Troy Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York to dismantle this network and hold those responsible accountable.”
“This guilty plea marks the final defendant held accountable in a sophisticated, nationwide drug trafficking organization that moved more than 15,000 pounds of marijuana from California into the Capital Region and communities across the country,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “For years, this organization attempted to conceal its criminal enterprise by disguising drug shipments in dog food containers and luggage, using our nation’s commercial shipping system to move thousands of pounds of marijuana, and laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through cash couriers, financial transactions and real estate. The DEA and our law enforcement partners have and will always continue to relentlessly pursuit drug trafficking organizations at every level; from its leadership and suppliers to its distributors and those responsible for laundering its profits.”
“This investigation is a strong example of the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to address complex criminal activity. Our task force officer’s involvement reflects this department’s commitment to supporting our federal law enforcement partners. We are proud of the work our detective contributed to this investigation. Strong partnerships and interagency cooperation are critical to keeping our communities safe and holding those responsible for criminal activity accountable,” said Troy Chief of Police Daniel DeWolfHSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, “Dwight Singletary led a coast-to-coast marijuana and THC trafficking organization that, for years, shipped more than 15,000 pounds of marijuana to the Capital Region alone using fake shipper names, dog food containers, luggage, and other methods designed to hide the crime. This investigation exposed the full scope of the operation, from packaging and shipment in Fresno, to street-level ‘knock spot’ sales in New York, to the laundering of millions of dollars in drug proceeds through cash couriers, cashier’s checks, business accounts, real estate, and luxury assets. As the 25th and final defendant, Singletary’s guilty plea marks a decisive end to this organization and demonstrates how sustained collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners protects the public from sophisticated criminal networks.”
The packages of marijuana were received by numerous members of the organization in the Capital Region, including Coles’ mother, Rosemary Coles; Coles’ cousins, Isiah Ti-Quan Clements, aka “Zay, and LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala”; and Coles’ aunts and uncle, Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy,” June Allyson Osman, aka “Juney,” and Victor Turner. Other recipients in the Capital Region included Lawrence Mumphre, aka “L,” Deandre Caldwell, aka “Dilli,” “Dillinger,” and “Dre,” Tyquan Armstrong, aka “Moose,” Niara Banks, aka “Nie,” Toqwanda Ketchmre, aka “Quannie,” and Jazell Shuler. The recipients were paid between $300 and $400 per package received, and the packages were often picked up by Singletary’s brother, David Singletary, aka “DB,” who managed the organization’s operations in the Capital Region and received packages of marijuana at his apartment in Cohoes.
Lateek White and Onisha Smith, who are brother and sister, received packages of marijuana shipped from Fast Pack & Ship in Brooklyn, New York, and their uncle, Earnest Flood, aka “Pop,” received packages of marijuana in Richmond, Virginia.
In addition to selling bulk marijuana, Singletary, David Singletary, Mumphrey, and other members of the organization sold marijuana and THC out of “knock spots” in the Capital Region. The “knock spots” advertised various strains and quantities of marijuana and THC “edibles” for sale, with prices, on white boards. To make a purchase, customers knocked on the door, requested a particular strain of marijuana or type of THC edible, and exchanged cash for the marijuana or THC edibles, or both, through a slot in the door.
In searching one of the “knock spots” at 2657 5th Avenue, Troy, New York, pursuant to a warrant on January 10, 2022, law enforcement encountered Mumphrey, who ran the day-to-day operations of the “knock spot,” and discovered approximately 29 pounds of marijuana packaged for distribution in several plastic shelves with sticky notes denoting the strain and price of the marijuana; digital scales; a large safe with a bulletproof vest; a dogfood container with strains of marijuana and dollar amounts written on the side; and a box shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to Mumphrey at his home in Albany. A surveillance system with footage from January 5 to 10, 2022, depicted Singletary and David Singletary at the “knock spot” on three days and Mumphrey at the “knock spot” all five days. A total of approximately 280 marijuana sales through the door to the “knock spot” were made over the course of the five days.
On June 15, 2022, law enforcement simultaneously executed five search warrants in Fresno and 12 search warrants in the Capital Region. Singletary and Coles owned two adjacent homes at 5636 and 5371 West Acacia Avenue, Fresno, California, and lived together in 5371 West Acacia Avenue. In searching 5636 West Acacia Avenue, which was used by Singletary to store and package marijuana, law enforcement discovered a total of approximately 118 kilograms, or 260 pounds, of marijuana in black plastic bags throughout the house. The home, which was unfurnished besides a couch and television, also contained stacks of unused brown shipping boxes; six spindles of plastic wrap; large bags of packing peanuts; eight rolls of eBay packing tape; digital and commercial scales; plastic bags for vacuum sealing and three vacuum sealers; several packages of locks; and at least five plastic dogfood containers and four pieces of luggage, which were used to ship marijuana.
In searching Singletary’s and Coles home at 5371 West Acacia Avenue, law enforcement seized, among other things, over $1.2 million worth of watches, jewelry, and designer bags, belts, and shoes along with a loaded Glock Model 23 .40 caliber pistol.
Before purchasing 5636 and 5371 West Acacia Avenue, Singletary and Coles lived in another home in Fresno, where Coles photographed Singletary packaging marijuana for shipment:
In addition to purchasing and reselling bulk marijuana, Singletary worked with Daniels to cultivate marijuana on a commercial scale at a warehouse on Van Ness Avenue in Fresno. In searching the warehouse, law enforcement discovered 424 marijuana plants at various stages of maturity in five commercial grow rooms with fans, air conditioning, and grow lights. Outside the warehouse itself, in the front entrance to the building and in an office off the front entrance, law enforcement discovered six plastic bags containing four pounds of processed marijuana buds; two digital scales; a money counter; a plastic dogfood container; luggage; shipping peanuts; and eBay packing tape. Footage from a surveillance system at the warehouse showed Daniels tending to the marijuana plants and bringing supplies into the warehouse with Singletary.
In searching David Singletary’s apartment in Cohoes, law enforcement discovered and seized, among other things, 29 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana weighing approximately 19 kilograms and labeled, among other things, “GMO,” “Mimosa,” “Gary Payton,” “#45,” and “Gumbo 3A,” a dogfood container with ten clear knotted plastic bags each containing approximately one pound of marijuana, a clear plastic bag containing marijuana next to a scale on the kitchen counter, a gun box with 11 rounds of .40 caliber Winchester ammunition in a 12-round magazine, a money counter, a vacuum sealer, jewelry worth over $30,000, and $14,552 in cash.
To promote the marijuana trafficking organization, Coles created an Instagram account in the name nutty_packz, and in searching David Singeltary’s apartment, law enforcement discovered marijuana packaging materials with the “Nutty Pack” emblem:
In searching Mumphrey’s home in Albany, which he shared with his wife, Latrice Mumphrey, law enforcement discovered a backpack containing two plastic bags of marijuana with “41 Cherries” and “Dulce De Leche” written on the side. A locked room in the basement contained a plastic dogfood container with “41 Cherries $3,600,” “Dulce De Leche $3,800,” and “12 Lows $700” written on the side and with eight bags of marijuana weighing approximately one pound apiece. The locked room also contained a suitcase with four firearms—a Ruger model AR-556 5.56x45mm caliber semiautomatic rifle, 5.56x45mm caliber semiautomatic rifle, Anderson model AM-15 5.56x45mm caliber semiautomatic rifle, and Taurus 9mm caliber pistol—and assorted ammunition.
Caldwell’s apartment in Albany contained marijuana, THC edibles, digital scales, boxes from Fast Pack & Ship, $15,941 in cash drug proceeds, and a .380 caliber handgun. Armstrong’s apartment in Rotterdam contained seven vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana weighing 10 pounds; two money counters; and $18,723 in cash. The apartment also contained a loaded .357 revolver, a loaded .22 caliber “ghost gun,” and 125 rounds of .357 ammunition.
The search warrants did not deter Singletary, David Singletary, and other members of the organization and they continued to traffic marijuana, including out of the “knock spot” at 2657th Avenue. In searching 2657th Avenue a second time on November 11, 2022, law enforcement discovered prepackaged marijuana, a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun, and paperwork in David Singletary’s name.
After the search, Singletary and David Singletary moved the “knock spot” to an apartment next door at 2655 5th Avenue, Troy, New York, which was searched pursuant to warrant on January 4, 2023. A whiteboard offering marijuana for sale was outside the door to 2655 5th Avenue, which had a slot used to exchange marijuana for money. The same day, law enforcement executed a second search warrant at David Singletary’s apartment in Cohoes, which contained approximately 74 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages.
The marijuana and THC trafficking generated millions of dollars in revenue, which Singletary and other members of the organization laundered through a variety of means. David Singletary routinely gave other members of the organization, including Clements and Kristle Walker, aka “Demii,” locked suitcases containing well over $150,000 in cash marijuana and THC proceeds. Walker and Clements then separately flew from Albany to Fresno, where they delivered the cash to Singletary and Coles. In July 2020, Walker attempted to board a flight from Albany to Fresno with a suitcase containing $179,710 in cash drug proceeds, which was seized by law enforcement. The cash belonged to Singletary, but in seeking return of the cash from the DEA, Walker falsely claimed ownership.
Federal law requires financial institutions to complete a currency transaction report for cash transactions over $10,000. At Singletary’s direction, Walker, Clements, Banks, Mumphrey, Latrice Mumphrey, and another member of the organization, Alyssa June White, purchased multiple cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold for cash transactions of over $10,000, but amounting to over $10,000 in total, oftentimes at different banks and branches on the same day. The cashier’s checks were payable to Singletary; his company, DAS Empire, Inc.; his real estate law firm; a company from which he and Coles purchased real estate; and to a person from whom Singletary and DAS Empire purchased real estate.
Singletary, at times through DAS Empire, purchased and renovated several properties in the Capital Region with marijuana proceeds. He used the cashier’s purchased with cash marijuana proceeds to pay for the properties, and paid contractors renovating the properties with cash marijuana proceeds. In 2021, Singletary and Coles used $430,000 and $390,000 in marijuana proceeds to purchase 5363 and 5371 West Acacia, respectively. The purchase price was paid through, among other means, cashier’s checks purchased with marijuana proceeds.
To make the marijuana proceeds appear like legitimate business income, members of the organization deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash marijuana proceeds into accounts held by Coles in the name of her company, M.M.M.C. Management, and into business accounts held by Fane, who was previously employed as a banker but fired for money laundering. At Singletary’s directions, members of the organization—including Walker, Clements, and Shuler—sent over $103,000 in money transfers purchased with cash marijuana proceeds in the Capital Region to Fane and others in and around Fresno.
Law enforcement forfeited a total of over $2.53 million in cash, vehicles, jewelry, real property, and other assets from Singletary and other members of the organization.
Singletary faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison on the two counts to which he pled guilty, conspiring to distribute marijuana and conspiring to commit money laundering; fines of up to $10.25 million; and a term of supervised release of between five years and life. His plea agreement with the government calls for a sentence of 10- to 20-years imprisonment. If the court rejects the plea agreement, Singletary will be permitted to withdraw his plea. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
In addition to Singletary, 24 other defendants have pled guilty. The following defendants pled guilty to the following charges and received the following sentences:
Defendant
Charge(s)
Sentence
James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost,” age 42, of FresnoTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money laundering180 months imprisonmentLawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” age 47, of AlbanyThree counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and THC, (ii) possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and (iii) conspiracy to commit money laundering156 months imprisonmentDeandre Caldwell, aka “Dilli,” “Dillinger,” and “Dre,” age 34, of AlbanyTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and THC, and (ii) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime97 months imprisonment Tyquan Armstrong, aka “Moose,” age 47, of RotterdamThree counts: (i) conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, (ii) possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and (iii) possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime90 months imprisonmentToqwanda Ketchmore, aka “Quannie,” age 32, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana24 months imprisonmentEarnest Flood, aka “Pop,” age 68, of Richmond, VirginiaTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingTime served JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney,” age 61, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaTwo years’ probationThe following defendants pled guilty to the following charges, face the following sentences, and are awaiting sentencing:
Defendant
Charge(s)
Potential Sentence
McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” age 39, of FresnoTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and THC, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingAt least 10 years and up to life imprisonment (if accepted by the court, the plea agreement calls for sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment) Nehemiah Fane, aka “Neil,” age 44, of FresnoTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingMaximum sentence of 40 years imprisonmentSammy Olague, age 39, of FresnoOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaAt least 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonmentRuby Ledesma, age 28, of FresnoOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaMaximum sentence of 20 years imprisonmentDavid Singletary, aka “DB,” age 40, of CohoesOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaAt least 10 years and up to life imprisonment (if accepted by the court, plea agreement calls for sentence of at least 10 years and up to 18 years imprisonment)Isiah Ti-Quan Clements, aka “Zay,” age 39, of TroyTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and THC, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingAt least 10 years and up to life imprisonmentLatrice Mumphrey, age 45, of AlbanyOne count: conspiracy to commit money laundering Maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonmentRosemary Coles, age 74, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and THCAt least 10 years and up to life imprisonmentKristle Waler, aka “Demii,” age 42, of AlbanyTwo counts: conspiracy to commit money laundering and false statements Maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonmentNiara Banks, aka “Nie,” age 34, of TroyTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and THC, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingMaximum sentence of 40 years imprisonmentJazell Shuler, age 38, of TroyTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingMaximum sentence of 40 years imprisonmentVictor Turner, age 72, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaMaximum sentence of 20 years imprisonmentLaFay Pearson, aka “Lala,” age 25, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaMaximum sentence of 20 years imprisonmentConsanga Harris, aka “Sondy,” age 65, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuanaMaximum sentence of 20 years imprisonmentAlyssa June White, age 33, of TroyOne count: conspiracy to commit money launderingMaximum sentence of 20 years imprisonmentOnisha Smith, age 43, of BrooklynTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingMaximum sentence of 40 years imprisonmentLateek White, age 55, of BrooklynTwo counts: (i) conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and (ii) conspiracy to commit money launderingAt least 10 years and up to life imprisonmentThe ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, and HSI investigated the case, with critical support from U.S. Attorney’s Office Financial Investigator Justus Derx. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck, Dustin C. Segovia, and Nicholas Walter are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Federal Jury Convicts Puerto Rican Man of Trafficking 65 Kilograms of Cocaine During Boat Chase West of Savanah IslandRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that a federal jury convicted Jean Carlos Torres Cruz, of Puerto Rico, for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance pursuant to 21 U.S.C §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. After a two-day trial, the defendant was convicted as charged. The defendant faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 120 months imprisonment and up to life in prison. The Chief District Court Judge, Robert A. Molloy, will schedule a sentencing hearing to determine the sentence to be imposed.
According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, on July 21, 2025, the defendant was stopped while a passenger on a boat in the waters near Savanah Island, just west of St. Thomas, USVI. At approximately 3:00 a.m., U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection Air and Marine (AMO) detected a vessel operating without navigation lights traveling towards St. Thomas, USVI from Culebra, PR. AMO-St. Thomas launched a vessel to investigate and located the lights-out vessel west of Savanah Island heading towards Culebra, PR. The vessel fled from the AMO vessel while the defendant threw bags overboard. The vessel stopped after AMO agents fired warnings flares in front of the fleeing boat. Once the boat was stopped, and the defendant and another male were arrested, AMO agents searched the area and recovered two duffle bags that the defendant threw overboard. The duffel bags contained 65 packages. A Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory analyst confirmed that the 65 packages contained approximately 65 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated jointly by the AMO and the DEA. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Erik Tate and Criminal Chief Kyle Payne.Federal Judge Sentences Man to Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Five Loaded Firearms During High-Speed Chase on Chicago ExpresswayRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegally possessing five loaded firearms during a high-speed chase on the John F. Kennedy Expressway in Chicago.
On July 30, 2024, TIMOTHY MCDOWELL was a passenger in a stolen car traveling on the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. As a police helicopter followed overhead, the car increased its speed to more than 100 miles per hour before exiting the highway and speeding through residential streets. After the vehicle parked in a garage, McDowell ran from pursuing officers and attempted to abandon a backpack he was carrying. He was arrested after a brief chase. Inside his backpack were five loaded handguns, one of which had a defaced serial number while another had a large-capacity magazine attached to it. McDowell had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
McDowell, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On Aug. 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced McDowell to six years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.
“The fact that defendant possessed five firearms is itself serious, but the fact that he possessed them with compatriots in a stolen vehicle that was fleeing from police increases the seriousness here,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Schied argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He was out and up to no good with others, a danger that compounds his possession of dangerous weapons as a multiple convicted felon.”
Extradited Mexican Citizen Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican man was sentenced to federal prison today for drug distribution.
Abel Resendiz-Villa, 42, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. This sentencing was significantly delayed because the defendant fled to Mexico before his previous sentencing hearing, in violation of his plea agreement. He was later found in Mexico and successfully extradited to the U.S. The United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force for the District of Oregon provided critical information with its Mexico Foreign Field Office to locate and extradite Abel Resendiz-Villa.
“Resendiz-Villa tried to escape the consequences of his criminal choices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office sees their cases through. As seen in this case, even fleeing the country won’t allow drug dealers to flee consequences,” said United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
“As was the case in this criminal investigation, drug traffickers who poison our communities with deadly fentanyl will be held accountable in a court of law. The DEA and our law enforcement partners and prosecutors remain steadfast in our commitment to keep communities safe from fentanyl by reducing demand, cutting off drug supply chains, and saving American lives,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division.
According to court documents, Resendiz-Villa trafficked meth, heroin, and counterfeit oxycodone pills into the U.S. From on or about July 26, 2020, to, on or about July 30, 2020, Resendiz-Villa smuggled drugs in the U.S. to be sold and distributed in Portland. Resendiz-Villa was arrested on August 29, 2020, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on a motorcycle. Resendiz-Villa possessed 4.5 kilograms of heroin concealed in his motorcycle and helmet.
On July 25, 2022, Resendiz-Villa pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled substances. On January 6, 2023, Resendiz-Villa failed to appear for sentencing, and the court issued a warrant for his arrest.
On February 20, 2026, Resendiz-Villa was arrested by Mexican authorities on the warrant in Tijuana, Mexico. He was detained at his initial appearance after this re-arrest.
On August 20, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment on Resendiz-Villa and his co-defendants. Resendiz-Villa was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances, to use a communication facility and to maintain drug-involved premises.
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Maloney.
The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics and fugitive task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations while locating and arresting violent fugitives and criminals. This is accomplished while using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. The task force is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is comprised of investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon State Police and covers the Districts of Alaska, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Drug-Dealing Killer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm IllegallyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Jesse James Williams, Jr., a 14-time convicted felon who once killed a man over a $10 drug debt, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm.
“Amassing more than a dozen felony convictions, this violent, incorrigible defendant spent decades breaking the law,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Williams’s sentence sends an unmistakable message: repeat offenders who arm themselves and endanger the community will be removed from our streets. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who refuse to respect the law face its full weight.”
“Williams has demonstrated time and again that he has no regard for the law or the safety of others. A violent convicted felon with a history of drug trafficking, robbery, and weapons offenses has no place on our streets with a firearm, and this sentence ensures he will be held accountable for his continued criminal conduct,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue violent offenders who use firearms to threaten and harm our communities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and evidence presented in court: On May 29, 2024, a Gwinnett County Police Department officer stopped Williams’s car for speeding. During the stop, officers recovered a stolen pistol and a baggie of crack cocaine in Williams’s waistband. Law enforcement agents later linked the gun to a shooting in Decatur, Georgia that injured a woman. Before the shooting, Williams allegedly warned the victim, “Bitch, I told you not to touch my stuff.”
Prior to his 2024 arrest, Williams had amassed more than a dozen felony convictions for crimes including cocaine trafficking, robbery, burglary, and weapon possession. In 2011, Williams was convicted of voluntary manslaughter after killing another man over a $10 drug debt.
On August 25, 2026, United States District Judge Steven D. Grimberg sentenced Jesse James Williams Jr., 51, of Decatur, Georgia, to 14 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On December 18, 2025, a jury found Williams guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after a four-day trial.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department, the DeKalb Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.
Assistant United States Attorneys Dash A. Cooper and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to public court documents, Tyler Boyd Pavlick, 33, placed a mini video camera in the tank of a porta-potty at three Central Iowa events: co-ed middle school and high school cross-county meets, one held in State Center on September 23, 2025, and another held in Osceola on September 30, 2025; and an arts, craft, and harvest event held in Des Moines on October 4, 2025. Pavlick placed the cameras with the purpose of creating visual depictions of minors lasciviously exhibiting their anus, genitals, or pubic area. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Pavlick’s Des Moines residence on October 15, 2025, including mini cameras that were the same model as those seized by police from the porta-potties in State Center and Des Moines. One of the electronic devices seized from Pavlick’s residence contained video footage of minors using the porta-potty at the Osceola event, including footage of a minor under the age of 12.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Pavlick will be required to serve a 10‑year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Pavlick will be required to register as a sex offender in his state of residence.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Kerndt prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
DermTech Inc. to Pay up to $5M to Resolve Allegations It Submitted False Claims to Medicare for Unreliable Skin Cancer TestsRead the Press Release
A skin cancer testing company formerly known as DermTech Inc. has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for unreliable skin cancer tests to the Medicare program. DermTech is now liquidating as DTech Liquidating Inc. after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware in June 2024. As part of the resolution announced today, the United States received an Allowed Class Three General Unsecured Claim of $5,038,011 in the bankruptcy proceeding.
The settlement resolves allegations that DermTech submitted claims to Medicare for skin cancer tests despite knowing the tests had quality control issues. First, from October 2022 to March 2023, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that it conducted after switching to an unvalidated positive control range for one of the test’s two key melanoma markers. Without a validated positive control range, it is impossible to confirm that the positive control is working and thus impossible to verify whether the test results are accurate. Second, from January 2020 to February 2022, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that did not contain enough patient RNA to be tested but still generated positive or negative test results. For both categories of tests, DermTech reported results to patients. When concerns were raised about these tests, DermTech neither retracted the test results nor adequately refunded Medicare.
“The Justice Department is committed to protecting Medicare patients, especially in an area as serious as skin cancer testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who put patients at risk by billing Medicare for grossly substandard services.”
“This company billed Medicare for unreliable tests that may have misled patients and their doctors,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “This settlement is a perfect example of why the Department’s focus on fraud against the taxpayer directly leads to improved health and safety for Medicare patients.”
“Patients must be able to rely on the accuracy and integrity of diagnostic testing when making critical healthcare decisions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Submitting claims to Medicare for tests that fail to meet established clinical standards undermines patient safety and public trust. HHS-OIG remains committed to ensuring that healthcare providers deliver services that meet federal requirements and to pursuing accountability for alleged misconduct.”
“DermTech Inc. allegedly administered inadequate skin cancer tests that led to the fraudulent billing of Medicare, raising serious concerns about the company’s practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to investigating any company whose illicit actions may undermine the integrity of our healthcare system and ensure they are held accountable.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former DermTech employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Luong v. DermTech, Inc. et al., No. 3:23-cv-01404 (S.D. Cal.). Ms. Luong will receive 20% of the recovery received from the bankruptcy court in connection with the settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement pertain to DermTech Inc., a company that is now bankrupt. These claims do not pertain to DermTech LLC, a company that purchased DermTech Inc.’s assets in 2024 as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.
The resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act (FCA). Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Clare Elizondo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. Wong for the Southern District of California.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
DermTech Inc. to Pay up to $5M to Resolve Allegations It Submitted False Claims to Medicare for Unreliable Skin Cancer TestsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO — A skin cancer testing company formerly known as DermTech Inc., which was headquartered in San Diego, has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for unreliable skin cancer tests to the Medicare program. DermTech is now liquidating as DTech Liquidating Inc. after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware in June 2024. As part of the resolution announced today, the United States received an Allowed Class Three General Unsecured Claim of $5,038,011 in the bankruptcy proceeding.
The settlement resolves allegations that DermTech submitted claims to Medicare for skin cancer tests despite knowing the tests had quality control issues. First, from October 2022 to March 2023, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that it conducted after switching to an unvalidated positive control range for one of the test’s two key melanoma markers. Without a validated positive control range, it is impossible to confirm that the positive control is working and thus impossible to verify whether the test results are accurate. Second, from January 2020 to February 2022, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that did not contain enough patient RNA to be tested but still generated positive or negative test results. For both categories of tests, DermTech reported results to patients. When concerns were raised about these tests, DermTech neither retracted the test results nor adequately refunded Medicare.
“The Justice Department is committed to protecting Medicare patients, especially in an area as serious as skin cancer testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who put patients at risk by billing Medicare for grossly substandard services.”
“This company billed Medicare for unreliable tests that may have misled patients and their doctors,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “This settlement is a perfect example of why the Department’s focus on fraud against the taxpayer directly leads to improved health and safety for Medicare patients.”
“Patients must be able to rely on the accuracy and integrity of diagnostic testing when making critical healthcare decisions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Submitting claims to Medicare for tests that fail to meet established clinical standards undermines patient safety and public trust. HHS-OIG remains committed to ensuring that healthcare providers deliver services that meet federal requirements and to pursuing accountability for alleged misconduct.”
“DermTech Inc. allegedly administered inadequate skin cancer tests that led to the fraudulent billing of Medicare, raising serious concerns about the company’s practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to investigating any company whose illicit actions may undermine the integrity of our healthcare system and ensure they are held accountable.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former DermTech employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Luong v. DermTech, Inc. et al., No. 3:23-cv-01404 (S.D. Cal.). Ms. Luong will receive 20% of the recovery received from the bankruptcy court in connection with the settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement pertain to DermTech Inc., a company that is now bankrupt. These claims do not pertain to DermTech LLC, a company that purchased DermTech Inc.’s assets in 2024 as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. Wong for the Southern District of California and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Clare Elizondo.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Dallas medical clinic to pay $7.5 million to resolve COVID-19 testing overbilling allegationsRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced today that Aymancare PLLC, a medical clinic with offices in the Dallas area, agreed to pay $7.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by overbilling the federal government in connection with COVID-19 testing services performed for uninsured patients.
“Aggressively investigating and pursuing healthcare fraud is a top priority for my office,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will use all available tools, including through civil enforcement mechanisms like the False Claims Act, to identify and recover any healthcare dollars lost to fraud, waste or abuse—the American taxpayer deserves no less.”
“Ensuring that federal funds dedicated to the COVID-19 response are used appropriately remains a core oversight priority for HHS-OIG,” said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Billing for services that were never provided is a blatant abuse of the health care system and diverts critical resources away from patients who genuinely need them. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who exploit federal programs and to safeguard taxpayer dollars.”
As alleged by the United States, Aymancare operated “pop-up” testing sites during the COVID-19 pandemic and advertised “free” COVID testing that was in fact paid for by the federal government through a program for uninsured patients operated by the Health Resources and Service Administration – the COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured Program.
The United States alleged that, in addition to billing the government for the specimen collection and testing services that were provided through these testing sites, Aymancare also billed the government for separate “E&M services” (evaluation and management services, which typically represent services like office visits) as if the patients had been seen by a medical provider for some separate treatment or visit, when in fact no such separate services were performed. All that occurred during the testing encounters was that a technician or other personnel used nasal swabs to administer the COVID-19 tests.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
This year, the Trump Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s False Claims Act enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. False Claims Act matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s False Claims work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Stoltz.
The civil claims settled by the agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of civil liability.
###
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of Tire ShopRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Angelo Harris, 39, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today in connection with the armed robbery of a Northeast D.C. tire shop on April 29, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Harris pleaded guilty before Judge Ana C. Reyes to one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). Judge Reyes scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026.
According to court documents, Harris, armed with a black handgun, and a co-conspirator, armed with a rifle, arrived at Mac’s Tire Shop on the 400 block of Florida Avenue NE, and brandished their weapons at an employee of the store. Using the threat of the firearms, they forced the employee out of his chair in the garage area of the establishment into the office in order to complete the robbery. The two forcibly took cash and other items from the shop before fleeing the scene.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Levy and Caelainn Carney.
Surveillance photo taken the day of the tire store robbery.
25cr185
Follow us on X, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc
Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 17 through August 21, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 17 through August 21, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On August 17, 2026, Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz (1) and Pablo De la Cruz-Arias (21) pleaded guilty to Count One in CR Case 22-213 (ADC). According to the indictment, the defendants were charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances within one thousand (1,000) feet of the Vista Hermosa Public Housing Project (PHP), the Villa España PHP, the Luis Lloréns Torres PHP, and other areas nearby. Both defendants were arrested on May 25, 2022. The Court set defendant Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz’s sentencing date for December 14, 2026, and defendant Pablo De la Cruz-Arias’ for November 5, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 18, 2026, Carlos Ramón Santiago Velázquez pleaded guilty to Count Three of the Superseding Indictment in Criminal Case 25-059-11 (FAB) as amended, namely conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 2, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 20, 2026, Harry Acevedo Méndez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case No. 24-456 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with drug trafficking inside state prison facilities. Defendant was arrested on December 17, 2024. AUSA Myriam Y. Fernández-González in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 21, 2026, Jonathan Cabassa-Cintrón pleaded guilty to violating Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii), and 846, in Criminal Case 25-441 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 21, 2026, Karla Paola Gómez Pereira pleaded guilty via straight plea to Count One of Indictment in case number 26-010 (ADC). According to the indictment on December 22, 2025, the defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilograms. Defendant was arrested on December 22, 2025. The defendant’s sentencing date is to be set by the Court. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 21, 2026, Juan Carlos Montero Florian pleaded guilty to all drug related charges in Indictment in case number 24-429-03 (SCC). According to the indictment on October 13, 2024, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilos aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, possession with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilos aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and jettisoning bales of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 13, 2024. The defendant’s sentencing date is to be set by the Court. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 21, 2026, Alejandro Saenz-Escobar pleaded guilty to possession of Suboxone in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo in Criminal Case 25-475 (CVR). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possessing Suboxone in MDC with the intent to distribute that Suboxone to others. Defendant was in MDC due to his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that operated in Manatí, Puerto Rico (principally the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project) and areas nearby. Defendant was charged with possession of the Suboxone on November 12, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 6, 2026. SAUSA Daphne Cordero and AUSA Joseph Russell in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 21, 2026, Carlos Alexis Serrano-Vega pleaded guilty to Count One and Six in Criminal Case 22-327 (PAD). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in the Pedro Rosario Nieves Public Housing Project and other areas in and around Fajardo, Puerto Rico, while also carrying firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Defendant was arrested on July 27, 2022. The Court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On August 18, 2026, Marino Johnson-Devers was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé to a term of 120 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-254 (CVR) and pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. AUSA Antonio J. López-Rivera is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 18, 2026, Bienvenido Pelliecier Negrón was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa to 70 months of imprisonment and supervised release term of five years for conspiring to import into the United States 234 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on March 20, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-145 (FAB), and pleaded guilty on August 26, 2025. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 18, 2026, Welkin A. González Pérez was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to time served while detained pending trial and a one-year supervised release term for re-entry of removed alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 11,2026, in Criminal Case 26-253, and pleaded guilty on August 18, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 19, 2026, Héctor L. Derkes was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to 192 months (16 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for coordinating the importation of large quantities of drugs from South America into Puerto Rico and the continental United States, as well as conspiring to launder the drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on November 3, 2021, in Criminal Case 21-359, and pleaded guilty on June 9, 2026. AUSA Ricardo Imbert Fernández is in charge of the prosecution of the case. The case was previously handled by former AUSA Ryan McCabe.
- On August 20, 2026, Joshua Rivera-Cruz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to nine (9) years of incarceration for his armed participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 20, 2026, Michael J. Rodríguez Cruz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll to 48 months of imprisonment, to be served consecutively to a term of 96 months of imprisonment, and 6 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 11, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) and pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026. Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
###
Columbia Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $250K from Local BusinessRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Isha Yumakia Warr, 53, of Columbia, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for wire fraud.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Warr worked as a bookkeeper for a small business in Lexington County from June 2023 to July 2024. Shortly after starting work, Warr convinced the business to change their accounting software to a new system. The new software enabled Warr to pay money directly to herself, rather than paying company invoices. The business later discovered a series of unauthorized payments and unpaid invoices during a routine financial review. With the assistance of a forensic accountant, the business discovered a total of $253,855.48 in unauthorized transfers were made from the business account into Warr’s personal account.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Warr to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Ms. Warr was ordered to pay $253,855.48 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.###
Cazenovia Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dean Dellas, age 42, of Cazenovia, New York, was sentenced on August 26, 2026, to 70 months’ imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Dellas admitted that beginning no later than June 2021 through November 2023, he acted as a financial advisor for the investment accounts of clients in the Syracuse area. Dellas fraudulently induced those clients to sign paperwork that authorized Dellas to take advisor fees from their accounts well in excess of what they actually agreed to. For other accounts, Dellas fraudulently induced the clients to sign paperwork granting him trading and withdrawal authority over their accounts. This account-opening paperwork misrepresented Dellas’s relationship to the clients and falsely stated that Dellas received no compensation for providing investment advice. The account-opening documents that Dellas induced the client to sign also falsely stated that the client wanted to engage in high-risk forms of investment, according to the indictment. Dellas further admitted that to conceal the fraud, he took steps to conceal account statements from his clients and at times impersonated clients in communicating with brokerage firms. Dellas admitted that he stole approximately $686,000 from his victims through unauthorized withdrawals and advisor fees.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Dellas’s conduct,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone. “By manipulating client documents and misusing the authority he was given, Dellas undermined the integrity of the investment process and caused significant financial harm. This outcome underscores the importance of safeguarding investors and ensuring that those who misuse their positions face appropriate consequences, in this case, repaying the stolen funds and serving nearly six years in prison.”
“Mr. Dellas’ clients trusted him with their hard-earned money,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albany Field Office. “In return, he devised schemes that allowed him to steal over $680,000 from them. This sentence and order of restitution delivers the justice his victims deserve. While he heads to federal prison for nearly six years, the FBI will continue to aggressively investigate and bring to justice any individuals disguising themselves as a trusted financial advisor to take advantage of Americans.”
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Dellas to pay restitution to the victims of the offense, in the amount of $686,797 and imposed a 2-year term of supervised release to follow his release from prison.
FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Michael F. Perry prosecuted the case.
Cartel Commanders Charged with International Cocaine and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging Ramon Alvarez Ayala, 44, and Rafael Alvarez Ayala, 42, both Mexican nationals, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for importation into the United States and possessing a firearm, including a machinegun, in furtherance of the drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, brothers Ramon Alvarez Ayala, also known as “R1,” and Rafael Alvarez Ayala, also known as “R2” and “Rafa,” were regional commanders for the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) in Michoacán, Mexico. On Feb. 20, 2025, the U.S. Secretary of State designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization.
“The Department of Justice is committed to the total elimination of drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “By targeting these regional commanders, we take another step towards fulfilling that commitment to eliminate the scourge of cartels like CJNG.”
“Every indictment secured against members of drug trafficking cartels, like CJNG, sends a clear message: DEA is committed and focused on dismantling violent and ruthless terrorist organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge and National Coordination Center Deputy Director Cindy Marx of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Operations Division. “Using all of the resources provided by the Homeland Security Task Force, DEA is pursuing the leaders, facilitators, financiers, and corrupt enablers of narco-terrorist organizations and bringing them to justice in the United States at unprecedented levels.”
The Alvarez Ayala brothers are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for importation into the United States from 2004 through December 2023, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm, including a machinegun, in relation to the drug trafficking conspiracy. If convicted, the Alvarez Ayalas each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 40 years in prison and a maximum penalty of two consecutive life prison sentences.
The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles is investigating the case. The Department of Justice thanks the Government of Mexico for securing the arrest of Ramon Alvarez Ayala.
Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) and Trial Attorneys Nicole Lockhart, Lernik Begian, and Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bucks County Man Charged with Attempted Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Bo Branstetter, 30, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with attempted use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.
The defendant appeared in federal court today for an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth L. Toplin and has been ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.
The indictment alleges that, from about June 13, 2026, to June 23, 2026, Branstetter used the internet and cellular phone service to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity for which any person could be charged with a criminal offense, that is, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and statutory sexual assault.
As further alleged, also in June of this year, Branstetter attempted to transfer obscene content to a person he believed to be a minor under 16 years of age.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and the Bensalem Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Sendek.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Bronx Man Charged with Committing Sex Trafficking, Coercion, and Enticement Crimes Involving Three Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the filing of an Indictment charging JIMMY ROSARIO with coercion and enticement of a 16-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-1”), coercion and enticement of a 12-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-2”), and sex trafficking of a 17-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-3”). ROSARIO is detained and the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“This Office is dedicated to protecting our children and ridding our streets of sexual predators,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, Jimmy Rosario preyed on multiple minor victims using online social messaging platforms. After meeting his victims online, Rosario allegedly lured these minors to meet in person by offering them alcohol, drugs, food, and cash, then engaged in unlawful sexual activity with them.”
“Jimmy Rosario allegedly preyed on vulnerable minors through sex trafficking and coercion, a series of acts that are completely indefensible,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI/NYPD Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force work relentlessly to ensure individuals like Rosario are removed from our communities and are held accountable for their heinous crimes.”
According to the Indictment and other public filings, from at least July 2025 through June 2026, ROSARIO utilized his cellphone and the Internet, including social messaging platforms, to connect and communicate with minors, including Minor Victim-1, Minor Victim-2, and Minor Victim-3. ROSARIO used his cellphone and the Internet to arrange for in-person meet ups where he engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal sex with the minor victims. Specifically, ROSARIO enticed Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2 to engage in unlawful sexual activity and solicited Minor Victim-3 to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money and other forms of payment.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
If you have been victimized by ROSARIO in any way or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
* * *
ROSARIO, 42, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI/New York City Police Department Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force for its outstanding work in connection with this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Cohen is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Olivia Sebade.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bridgeport and Ansonia Resident Charged with Narcotics Distribution and Gun Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that IRVIN JAVIER VILLEGAS, 49, of Bridgeport and Ansonia, has been charged by indictment with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in April 2026, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Villegas. Villegas was arrested on related state charges on April 27, 2026. On that date, a court-authorized search of his Ansonia residence on Silver Hill Road revealed approximately 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 400 grams of heroin, and a .40 caliber Glock 23 pistol.
It is alleged that Villegas’ criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug, robbery, weapon, and larceny offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On August 12, 2026, a grand jury in New Haven returned and indictment charging Villegas with possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that, based on Villegas’ previous conviction for a serious violent felony, carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
On August 24, 2026, Villegas appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He is released on a $250,000 bond pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Ansonia Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
Brentwood Felon Admits Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon on Wednesday admitted possessing a firearm that was first brought to authorities’ attention during a domestic disturbance.
Matthew Orasco, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Aug. 17, 2025, Brentwood Police Department officers responded to reports of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival at Orasco’s home, they saw that his girlfriend had bruises under her eyes, a cut lip that had been stitched up, swelling on the side of her head and a red eye. She said that Orasco had assaulted her. Officers then learned that Orasco, a convicted felon, was keeping a handgun at a neighbor’s house. Officers found the .357 Magnum revolver and ammunition and learned that Orasco would ask for the pistol and then return it to the neighbor for safekeeping.
Orasco is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
The Brentwood Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Setting Residential FiresRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man entered a guilty plea and received a federal sentence, today, for intentionally setting fire to multiple North Baltimore properties.
Justin Michael Reeves, 29, pled guilty to malicious destruction of property by fire, in connection with the incidents. After Reeves pled guilty, the Honorable Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced him to 63 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea and sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief James W. Wallace, Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD).
According to his guilty plea, on May 10, 2025, Reeves set a fire at a North Baltimore residence. After setting the fire, Reeves returned to the residence at various points to spread the burning materials across the structure and the garage door. An adjacent property’s surveillance camera captured Reeves setting the fire. Additionally, location information from Reeves’ cellphone also shows the phone in the area at the time of the incident.
Additionally, in the early morning hours of May 14, Reeves set another fire at the same residence. This time, the fire extended to the property next door before fire personnel extinguished it. Surveillance video from the rear of the residence captured Reeves walking back and forth before and after the fire. Location information from Reeves’ cell phone also shows the phone in the area during the time Reeves is observed on surveillance footage. On May 16, Reeves returned to the rear of the property to take pictures of the fire-damaged residence.
Then on May 25, Reeves set a fire at another North Baltimore residence, which was occupied by an individual sleeping in a second-floor bedroom. Surveillance footage captured Reeves on the premises. The captured video shows Reeves walking back and forth near the residence and wearing the same clothing and carrying the same backpack from the May 14 fire.
On May 28, BPD officers arrested Reeves and seized his cellphone. A search of Reeves’s phone uncovered internet searches about the fires, property records in the area of the fires, and searches relating to additional fires that occurred in the same area in 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, MSP, BPD, and BCFD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who is prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
# # #
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Connection with Assaulting Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man entered a guilty plea in federal court, today, stemming from an incident in which he assaulted a law enforcement officer while resisting arrest.
Demetris White, 44, pled guilty to a superseding information charging him with assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers or employees.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Regional Director Jose Ortiz-Diaz, U.S. Federal Protective Service (FPS), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Office, and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Boston- New York- Philadelphia Field Division.
According to his guilty plea, on May 19, 2025, White entered a Baltimore Social Security Administration (SSA) field office to inquire about his SSA disability benefit payments. Some SSA-benefit recipients access their monthly benefit payments via a Direct Express Debit Mastercard. At the time, White was unable to access his benefit payments because he lost his debit card.
During his visit, White became upset when an SSA customer-service representative attempted to explain the process to receive a new debit card. He began berating the customer service representative who then pressed a duress button to notify security.
Security personnel responded and asked White to leave the building. Then White berated and threatened to physically assault and spit on security personnel before eventually leaving the building. But due to White’s threats, a federal law enforcement officer responded to the scene.
The law enforcement officer found White outside of the building, approached him, and attempted to place him under arrest. But White was still irate and physically resisted the law enforcement officer’s attempt to arrest him. In response, the law enforcement officer pointed a taser at White and warned him that he would tase him if he continued resisting.
White then allowed the law enforcement officer to place him in handcuffs. After the law enforcement officer, who was standing behind White, handcuffed him, White forcibly backwards headbutted the officer, causing a laceration to his lip, resulting in bleeding and swelling.
White is facing up to eight years in federal prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended FPS and SSA-OIG for their work in the investigation, along with the Baltimore Police Department, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
# # #
Aryan Brotherhood Associate Convicted of Two MurdersRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An associate of the prison gang Aryan Brotherhood was convicted today of executing two men in Lomita on orders given by an Aryan Brotherhood member incarcerated in Kern Valley State Prison, in Kern County.
“This case lays bare the ruthless reach of the Aryan Brotherhood and the violence its members and associates are willing to inflict,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. “Justin Gray executed two men at point‑blank range because an incarcerated gang member ordered it. Our office remains committed to dismantling violent prison gangs and protecting our communities from their deadly influence.”
“This verdict reflects the serious problem gang violence represents, even from people doing lengthy prison sentences,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will continue to focus its resources on holding gang members accountable, even if they are already behind bars. Clement, who ordered these executions and has been sentenced to life, and now Gray, who carried them out, will pay a severe price for taking life thanks to the good work of the investigators and prosecutors as well as the careful attention of the jury.”
“These murders are a stark reminder that criminal organizations can direct violence from behind prison walls,” said Director Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling these networks and holding accountable the individuals responsible for these senseless murders.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 4, 2020, Justin Gray, 40, of San Pedro, California, executed two men on the orders of Aryan Brotherhood Brother Francis Clement, who was serving a prison sentence in Kern Valley State Prison. Justin Gray lured the victims from San Diego to Lomita where, with the aid of another Aryan Brotherhood associate, he shot both victims in the head. The order to kill had been given over “disrespect” one of the victims had shown to the Aryan Brotherhood. Gray is a member of Baby Blue Wrecking Crew, a white-only gang that takes orders from and works under the Aryan Brotherhood. Gray was convicted of two counts of committing murder in aid of racketeering.
Gray is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Nov. 23, 2026. Gray faces a mandatory life sentence.
This trial was part of a larger investigation charging Gray and 20 other defendants with a variety of criminal offenses, including RICO conspiracy, VICAR murder, and narcotics offenses, all related to their criminal activities as members and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood. The following individuals charged in the investigation were convicted at trial on Feb. 18, 2025.
John Stinson, 72, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.
Francis Clement, 60, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and five counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of the two victims and three other individuals he also ordered to be murdered as part of the racketeering activity of the Aryan Brotherhood.
Kenneth Johnson, 65, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of the two victims.
Additional individuals charged in the case and still pending trial include the following:
- Jayson Weaver, 49, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Waylon Pitchford, 48, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Andrew Collins, 42, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Alexander Van Beusekom, 41, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Evan Perkins, 41, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Office of Correctional Safety (CDCR), United States Marshals Service, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Pomona Police Department, Torrance Police Department, San Diego Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Justice and the California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the FBI, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Clovis Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Conolly for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Amanda J. Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Aryan Brotherhood Associate Convicted of Two MurdersRead the Press Release
An associate of the prison gang Aryan Brotherhood was convicted today of executing two men in Lomita, California, on orders given by an Aryan Brotherhood member incarcerated in Kern Valley State Prison, in Kern County, California.
“This verdict reflects the serious problem gang violence represents, even from people doing lengthy prison sentences,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will continue to focus its resources on holding gang members accountable, even if they are already behind bars. Clement, who ordered these executions and has been sentenced to life, and now Gray, who carried them out, will pay a severe price for taking life thanks to the good work of the investigators and prosecutors as well as the careful attention of the jury.”
“These murders are a stark reminder that criminal organizations can direct violence from behind prison walls,” said Director Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling these networks and holding accountable the individuals responsible for these senseless murders.”
“This case lays bare the ruthless reach of the Aryan Brotherhood and the violence its members and associates are willing to inflict,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Justin Gray executed two men at point‑blank range because an incarcerated gang member ordered it. Our office remains committed to dismantling violent prison gangs and protecting our communities from their deadly influence.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 4, 2020, Justin Gray, 40, of San Pedro, California, executed two men on the orders of Aryan Brotherhood Brother Francis Clement, who was serving a prison sentence in Kern Valley State Prison. Justin Gray lured the victims from San Diego to Lomita where, with the aid of another Aryan Brotherhood associate, he shot both victims in the head. The order to kill had been given over “disrespect” one of the victims had shown to the Aryan Brotherhood. Gray is a member of Baby Blue Wrecking Crew, a white-only gang that takes orders from and works under the Aryan Brotherhood. Gray was convicted of two counts of committing murder in aid of racketeering.
Gray is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston for the Eastern District of California on Nov. 23. Gray faces a mandatory life sentence.
This trial was part of a larger investigation charging Gray and 20 other defendants with a variety of criminal offenses, including RICO conspiracy, VICAR murder, and narcotics offenses, all related to their criminal activities as members and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood. The following individuals charged in the investigation were convicted at trial on Feb. 18, 2025.
John Stinson, 72, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.
Francis Clement, 60, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and five counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of the two victims and three other individuals he also ordered to be murdered as part of the racketeering activity of the Aryan Brotherhood.
Kenneth Johnson, 65, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of the two victims.
Additional individuals charged in the case and still pending trial include the following:
- Jayson Weaver, 49, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Waylon Pitchford, 48, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Andrew Collins, 42, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Alexander Van Beusekom, 41, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
- Evan Perkins, 41, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
This case is being investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the Office of Correctional Safety (CDCR), U.S. Marshals Service, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Pomona Police Department, Torrance Police Department, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Office, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the FBI, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Clovis Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Trial Attorney Amanda J. Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Conolly for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Armed Bank Robber Indicted in OrlandoRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Kelean Lerod Cobb (38, Orlando) has been charged by indictment with bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. If convicted of all counts, Cobb faces a minimum of 7 years, up to life, in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on February 27, 2026, Cobb robbed a bank in Altamonte Springs at gunpoint. Cobb entered the bank wearing a mask and dark colored clothing. He jumped over the teller counter and brandished a dark colored pistol at one of the bank tellers before pointing the firearm at another bank teller and directing her to open her drawer. Cobb then took approximately $277 and fled from the bank. A follow up investigation by law enforcement identified Cobb as the perpetrator.
In addition, Cobb possessed a firearm on August 12, 2026. Cobb is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. His prior offenses include robbery with a firearm, aggravated fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and trafficking in stolen property.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Altamonte Springs Police Department, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Amazon Fraud Defendant Sentenced to More than 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Brittany Hudson was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison today for orchestrating a scheme that netted nearly $10 million from Amazon, laundering the fraudulent proceeds, defrauding a franchising company while out on bond, and forging a federal judge’s signature on fake court documents.
“Hudson and her partner engineered a massive fraud scheme against Amazon, stealing nearly $10 million in just a few months,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Hudson then showed utter contempt for the law by forging a federal judge’s signature in a failed effort to defraud another company while out on bond. Today’s significant sentence, which must be served without the possibility of parole, holds her accountable for her crime spree.”
“The sentencing in this case brings a brazen fraud operation to its inevitable conclusion - years behind bars for the criminals involved,” said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to uncover fraud, protect victims, and work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring criminals like this to justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Brittany Hudson owned a business that contracted with Amazon to deliver packages. Hudson was in a romantic relationship with Kayricka Wortham (a/k/a Kayricka Dupree, a/k/a Kayricka Young), who was an operations manager at the Amazon warehouse in Smyrna, Georgia. Given her position, Wortham had the authority to approve new vendors and vendor invoice payments for Amazon.
From January 2022 to June 2022, Hudson and Wortham defrauded Amazon out of nearly $10 million through a scheme involving bogus vendors and invoices. Wortham and Hudson created dozens of fake vendors in Amazon’s vendor system. Wortham and another co-conspirator at Amazon approved the fake vendor profiles, enabling them to submit invoices.
Hudson and Wortham then submitted more than 1,000 fictitious invoices for the phony vendors, falsely claiming that the vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham approved the invoices, causing Amazon to transfer approximately $9.4 million to bank accounts controlled by Hudson, Wortham, and co-conspirators. Hudson and Wortham used the fraudulent proceeds to purchase expensive real estate and luxury vehicles, including a nearly $1 million home in Smyrna, Georgia, a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a 2021 Dodge Durango, a 2022 Tesla Model X, a 2018 Porsche Panamera, and a Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle.
In September 2022, Hudson and Wortham were charged in federal court with defrauding Amazon. While on bond, in January 2023, they attempted to defraud a franchising company, resulting in the immediate revocation of their pretrial release. In an effort to enter a franchising agreement to open a hookah lounge in Midtown Atlanta, Hudson and Wortham falsely claimed that their Amazon-related criminal charges had been dismissed. In support of that lie, the two emailed counterfeit court documents that purported to dismiss the charges and contained the forged signatures of former Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. and Cobb County Magistrate Judge Norman L. Barnett, who was then one of the prosecutors on the case. Hudson also emailed doctored financial statements with inflated account balances to support the franchise deal.
Brittany Hudson, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today to 16 years and three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 of restitution to Amazon. The Court also entered a forfeiture money judgment of $7,859,135.54 and ordered Hudson to forfeit her Smyrna residence and money seized from her bank account as fraudulent proceeds of the Amazon scheme. On March 13, 2026, a jury convicted Hudson of 30 felony offenses, including two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seventeen counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, nine counts of money laundering, and one count of forgery of the signature of a federal judge.
On June 27, 2023, Kayricka Wortham, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 16 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 in restitution. Wortham forfeited more than $3 million, the Smyrna home, and the vehicles purchased with fraudulent proceeds. On March 25, 2026, she was sentenced to an additional consecutive year in prison, bringing her total sentence to 17 years, after pleading guilty to forging the signature of a federal judge.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen H. McClain, Angela Adams, and Nicholas L. Evert prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga
Alexandria Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison After Concealing Machinegun on 10-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA – On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Jerry Edwards Jr. sentenced Sheldon Doral Franklin, 33, of Alexandria, to over four years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after his April 17, 2026, guilty plea to Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
“This defendant recklessly used a 10-year-old child to hide a fully automatic weapon and then ran from law enforcement to escape the consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Machinegun conversion devices are extremely dangerous, and our Office will continue to hold accountable those who endanger children, community members, and police officers by illegally possessing these dangerous weapons.”
According to court documents, the investigation began on March 23, 2024, when a Pineville Police Department (PPD) officer monitoring a license plate reader alert system received an alert for a stolen maroon Nissan Sentra reported out of Opelousas. The officer quickly located the Sentra traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 167. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle continued driving until the police siren was activated. Additional officers arrived and ordered Franklin, the driver and a convicted felon, out of the car. Franklin initially refused commands to keep his hands in view but eventually complied and was handcuffed. When questioned, Franklin identified the passenger as his 10-year-old child. Franklin then claimed he was unaware the vehicle had been stolen, stating it had been loaned to him by his girlfriend. When officers informed Franklin that they needed to search his child, he refused to give permission. The child also refused commands and kept a bag of chips pressed against his leg. As an officer attempted to move the child's arms, he felt what appeared to be a handgun concealed between the chip bag and the child's leg. Franklin then fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. Officers recovered the weapon, a loaded Glock Model 23, .40-caliber pistol equipped with a Machine Gun Conversion Device (MCD), also known as a switch, making the firearm fully automatic.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and PPD investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 1:25-cr-00235-01.
###
CONTACT:
Public Affairs: [email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704
Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Series of Armed Bank Robberies Across Albuquerque and Rio RanchoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for carrying out four armed bank robberies across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho between January 2024 and July 2025.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between January 2024 and July 2025, Daniel Ray Guliford, 40, committed four armed bank robberies in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, stealing more than $140,000 and terrorizing bank employees and customers.
During each robbery, Guliford wore a dark or gray hoodie, black face mask, gloves and dark clothing and brandished a handgun. He forced customers and employees to the ground and, during several robberies, ordered bank employees to open the vault.
The robberies included:
- January 4, 2024 – Guliford stole approximately $9,250 from U.S. Bank in Albuquerque. Investigators later recovered his fingerprints from a note left at the bank.
- March 21, 2024 – Guliford stole approximately $26,650 from U.S. Bank in Albuquerque after forcing employees to the ground and demanding that a teller open the vault. A witness later identified a black BMW associated with Guliford as the vehicle used to flee the robbery.
- July 5, 2024 – Guliford stole approximately $72,043.99 from New Mexico Bank & Trust in Rio Rancho after threatening employees and demanding that they open the vault. A witness photographed a black BMW without a visible license plate leaving the area.
- July 24, 2025 – Guliford stole approximately $31,261 from First Financial Credit Union in Albuquerque after brandishing a handgun and ordering employees to open the vault. Surveillance footage captured a black BMW matching Guliford’s vehicle near the credit union.
A teller who witnessed the January and March 2024 robberies later spotted what he recognized as the robber's BMW at a Dion’s Pizza in Albuquerque. Investigators determined the vehicle was registered to Guliford. Following the final robbery, investigators searched Guliford’s residence and recovered a firearm matching the appearance of the firearm used during the robberies, approximately $28,530 in cash, bank money bands and clothing matching that worn during the robberies.
Guliford pled guilty to four counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Guliford will be subject to two years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Sandia Pueblo Police Department and Pueblo of Isleta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler is prosecuting the case.
Tuesday 25 August 2026
West Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution and Fentanyl Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced that ALTON SMALL, also known as “Poodah,” “Tiemare,” and “Tie,” 31, of West Haven, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force investigation identified Small as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing fentanyl and cocaine in the greater New Haven area. The investigation included the seizure of approximately two kilograms of cocaine in Ansonia on January 30, 2025, multiple controlled purchases of narcotics between March and June 2025, and other investigative techniques. Investigators also connected an overdose death to Small’s drug trafficking activity.
Small was arrested on June 18, 2025. On that date, investigators searched several locations connected to Small and seized more than one kilogram of powder cocaine, more than 150 grams of crack cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, two loaded firearms, and additional ammunition.
On August 20, 2026, while released on bond, Small was arrested by West Haven Police for narcotics possession and distribution offenses.
Small pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At sentencing, which is scheduled for November 17, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Small’s bond was revoked today and he is detained pending sentencing.
The NHDO Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel.
Waterloo Man Sentenced for Making MachinegunsRead the Press Release
A man who turned firearms into fully automatic machineguns in his home was sentenced on August 20, 2026, to more than one year in federal prison.
Nicholas Laurence Wilson, age 35, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 30, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of machineguns.
Information from sentencing showed that Wilson machined three semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machineguns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) began investigating Wilson’s firearm purchases after several guns that he purchased were recovered in connection with criminal investigations. ATF agents searched Wilson’s house on July 16, 2025. They located the three machineguns and a machinegun conversion device, a drop-in auto sear, in Wilson’s house. Wilson lied to law enforcement agents by indicating that he did not have any National Firearms Act firearms, which would include machineguns, in his house.
Wilson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wilson was sentenced to twelve months and one day of imprisonment and fined $5,000. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Wilson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on September 21, 2026.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and ATF assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-2001.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.